Miller survives Rowe recall vote

ROWE — The School Committee chairwoman will keep her seat, after a recall measure was turned back by voters Saturday.

Lisa Miller’s recall was defeated 105-81, with one person returning a blank ballot. Rowe has a total of 293 registered voters.

“I’m happy that it’s all over and we can go on,” Miller said Sunday.

Miller said she wasn’t sure what to say about the vote because she had tried not to think about it.

“I tried not to think about it because there wasn’t a reason for the recall so I didn’t really expect to be recalled,” Miller said.

The ballot had two parts. One simply asked whether or not Miller should be recalled. The other pitted Miller against challenger Margaret Parent.

Since the recall was defeated, votes for the candidates were not counted.

The recall effort was started in September, by a petition signed by 80 of the town’s 400 residents. The petition stated that Miller’s “participation on the School Committee is obstructing the delivery of education.”

Miller said she and the School Board have been working diligently to “try to make sure we’re doing what’s best for our kids” since Rowe Elementary burned down in August.

She said in September that she’d only heard positive feedback about her efforts.

Some have also stated concerns with a perceived conflict of interest. Miller is married to Robert Clancy, former principal of Rowe Elementary School.

Clancy’s contract expired in 2011, and the superintendant decided not to renew it, without input from the towns. Many in Rowe were angered by this decision.

Miller was elected after running uncontested for a two-year term in 2011. Her term is set to expire in May 2013.